The uncertainty surrounding Kylian Mbappe’s future at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has taken a new twist as the French footballers’ union warns the club against potential “moral harassment” of the talented forward.
In a surprising development, Mbappe was notably excluded from PSG’s pre-season tour of Japan, intensifying the ongoing contract saga. The club has also taken the unprecedented step of putting him up for sale, further complicating the situation.
As of now, Mbappe has the option to extend his stay at the Parc des Princes until 2025, but he has not met the club’s deadline to clarify his plans. This has led PSG to begin preparations for the upcoming season without their star player, indicating their belief that Mbappe is determined to join Real Madrid on a free transfer next year.
Reports from The Athletic suggest that PSG is even willing to bench the 24-year-old during this season if he fails to secure a move to another club during the summer transfer window.
The players’ union, UNFP, representing Mbappe and 186 other Ligue 1 members, has raised concerns about potential “moral harassment” according to French law. They stress that clubs, including PSG, should be cautious not to exert undue pressure on their employees, referring to Mbappe as an employee in this context.
In a formal statement, the UNFP stated, “It seems useful to remind managers that exerting pressure on an employee — via the deterioration of his working conditions for example — to force him to leave or to accept what the employer wants constitutes moral harassment, which French law strongly condemns. The decision of the Reims Appeals Chamber in January 2020 confirms this.”
Despite the warning, PSG remains confident in their legal position regarding the situation. Meanwhile, Mbappe has garnered interest from teams in the Saudi Pro League, potentially setting the stage for a world-record transfer fee. However, it is important to note that at present, there are no indications that the forward is interested in signing with any other club besides Real Madrid.
As the saga unfolds, all eyes are on the future of one of football’s brightest stars, with PSG likely to accept a considerably lower transfer fee than the €180m they initially spent to secure Mbappe’s services in 2017 if they decide to sell him to a European rival. Stay tuned for further updates on this gripping football saga!
